Kevin Magnussen revealed that it "wasn't a huge surprise" when he learned that his Formula 1 team, Haas, had secured Ferrari-backed newcomer Oliver Bearman for 2025 and beyond.
"I've more or less known it for four months," admitted the Danish driver, whose future with the small American team is uncertain, during media day at Silverstone.
"Ok, it hasn't been decided for four months, but I knew it was going to happen. So no news for me," Magnussen said with a smile. "What can I say? A young guy getting to live out his dream in Formula 1."
Amid intense speculation that Magnussen might be replaced by Esteban Ocon next season, the 31-year-old is one of the drivers anxiously awaiting Carlos Sainz's team decision for 2025.
"There are a lot of things going on," Magnussen acknowledges. "Personally, I'm still focused on F1, although of course there are also interesting opportunities outside of F1."
When the 18-year-old Bearman was asked whether he would prefer to be teamed with Magnussen or the controversial Alpine driver Ocon next year, he replied at Silverstone, "That's a difficult question to ask me."
"It's not up to me to decide, anyway. What I would say is that I would like someone with experience and speed. Someone who I can learn from."
Magnussen believes Haas is the ideal team for the young British driver to make his full-time F1 debut. "When I entered Formula 1," he noted, "it was difficult to enter a top team (McLaren) that wasn't delivering. Because the expectations from the team are still huge. They actually expect you to win the championship."
"When you join a smaller team, it's easier. Although I can't say for sure because I didn't do it, but that's the way I think it is."
There's speculation that Bearman, a Ferrari academy driver, might be being prepped for a future move to the renowned Maranello-based team, possibly for when Lewis Hamilton retires.
"It would be a dream," Bearman confessed, "but it's not really in my hands. That's the goal, at least."
"But I'm not thinking about that now, even if it's difficult not to," he added with another smile.
Regarding Haas' selection of a teammate for Bearman, there are concerns that Frenchman Ocon's potential is being questioned by prospective teams due to his ongoing disputes and personality clashes with his current Alpine teammate, Pierre Gasly.
"It's not ideal," Gasly acknowledged at Silverstone.
"Between teammates, in terms of fighting, we all hope that there is a little more - how do I put this - a little more space. Because it's true that in our situation, you can't take the risk of having cars touching. But we know the current situation," he added.
"We know that Esteban needs to find a seat for next season and it's certainly not easy," Gasly said.
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